The USD 4 billion Oklahoma aluminium smelter project planned by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum is facing a new hurdle in Inola, where the city council has extended a moratorium on smelter permits and called a referendum on the proposed facility. The 750,000-tonne-per-year aluminium smelter, announced in January, is expected to more than double current US primary aluminium production and would be the first new primary aluminium smelter in the country in almost 50 years. It would also become the largest source of primary aluminium in the Western Hemisphere. The project has taken on added importance as the US imports roughly 60 per cent of the primary aluminium it uses. Aluminium is essential to transportation, defence, aerospace and electrical infrastructure, making...
Prysmian and Rio Tinto are supplying electrical cables made with ELYSIS aluminum for installation at an Amazon data center near Columbus, Ohio, marking what the companies describe as the first known use of aluminum produced with inert-anode smelting technology in a data center. The collaboration brings together aluminum produced using ELYSIS technology, Prysmian’s cable manufacturing, and Amazon’s data center infrastructure. The cables are being produced and shipped from Prysmian’s facility in Sedalia, Missouri. ELYSIS technology is designed to eliminate direct greenhouse gas emissions from the aluminum smelting process, producing oxygen instead of carbon dioxide and perfluorocarbons. Prysmian and Rio Tinto previously announced the introduction of ELYSIS-produced aluminum into building...
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Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), run by the oligarch Mukesh Ambani, announced that it would operationalise a series of green energy gigafactories in Jamnagar, Gujarat, over the upcoming four to six quarters. These facilities, focusing on the production of solar panels, batteries, and electrolysers, will represent the heart of the USD 10 billion (initially made in 2021) pivot into clean energy, Reliance disclosed. This initiative, aligned with RIL’s commitment to becoming net-zero by 2035, is also expected to lower their internal energy costs by at least 25 per cent, according to a company presentation. Strategic scale and vision The green energy complex spans an astounding 44 million square feet, almost four times the size of Tesla's Nevada gigafactory. Located next to the world's largest...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelters, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ali Aseeri as the Acting Manager of Engineering & Projects, effective immediately. With over 20 years of engineering experience, Ali began his career at Alba in 2005 within the Engineering Department. Since then, he has played a key role in major capacity enhancement initiatives, including the Line 6 Expansion, the Line 4 Anode Enlargement Project, and the upgrades of Gas Treatment Centres 1 to 4. Academically, Ali holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Liberec in the Czech Republic and an MBA from the Arabian Gulf University. He also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project...
With an agreement that expects to reconfigure India’s rare earth supply chain, India’s BatX Energies and Germany’s Rocklink GmbH recently signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to design the first fully integrated rare earth magnet recycling and refining ecosystem in India. Announced on July 18, 2025, the cooperative agreement highlights the more comprehensive objectives of enhancing Indo-European cooperation in critical minerals as part of the EU–India Trade and Technology Council (TTC). Image source: Fortune The project aims to tackle an urgent chokepoint in manufacturing clean tech around the world: rare earth elements (REE). The REEs include neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. All of these are key materials in electric vehicle motors, generators for...
The US Department of Commerce signed a landmark commercial agreement between Boeing and Bahrain’s Gulf Air for the purchase of up to eighteen 787 Dreamliner aircraft, valued at USD 7 billion. The deal is expected to support more than 400,000 US jobs during production and delivery, reinforcing Gulf Air’s commitment to operating an all-Boeing widebody fleet. Image Source: International Trade Administration Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said, “Today’s deal between Boeing and Gulf Air is yet another example of how companies are working with this administration to invest in America at historic levels. American workers, industry, and technology are the best in the world, and this deal demonstrates that.” The agreement adds to a record-breaking year for US commercial deals, with 87...
Auto components major Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar) has signed a binding term sheet with China’s Jinnaite Machinery Co. (JNT) to establish a joint venture (JV) for manufacturing and supplying driveline systems and components to automotive manufacturers in China and globally. Image Credit: Sona Comstar As per the stock exchange filing on Sunday, Sona Comstar will invest USD 12 million, while JNT will contribute USD 8 million in assets and business during the first phase. The JV is slated to begin operations in the second half of the current financial year, marking a key milestone in Sona Comstar’s expansion into the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market. “Sona Comstar, a leading global supplier of driveline solutions for various automotive segments, is strategically expanding...
The United States’ dumping allegation against India has now extended beyond aluminium to include solar panels. Indonesia and Laos are also carrying similar accusations, as a group of US solar panel manufacturers have claimed that an influx of cheap products from these countries is harming the domestic market of solar items. Image source: Britannica On Thursday, July 17, the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade filed a formal petition, citing the surge in imports from Indonesia, Laos, and India intensified following the imposition of steep tariffs of up to 3,500 per cent on solar panels imported from Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The allegation is clear that the countries hit by US tariffs are rerouting their solar exports through these new channels to sidestep...
Arrow Minerals Limited has announced a strategic amendment to its Share Purchase Option Agreement for the Niagara Bauxite Project in Guinea, underscoring its commitment to the long-term development of this key West African asset. As per the revised terms, the first milestone payment has been deferred until the project's permit is renewed or granted to an Arrow-related entity for a minimum term of two years, with an expiry date beyond June 2027. The second milestone payment, payable in cash or shares, has been made conditional on the declaration of a significant mineral resource. Suppose the permit renewal is granted to an Arrow-related entity, and Arrow chooses to advance the project within 12 months of the renewal. In that case, the vendor of the Niagara Bauxite Project will remain...
Maan Aluminium, a manufacturer and trader of aluminium profiles, has seen a sharp rise in its stock price to INR 122.95 (USD 1.43) as of July 21, marking a significant recovery from earlier lows this year. Image for representational purpose The stock’s recent surge follows a challenging period beginning in late February 2025. On February 25, Maan Aluminium was trading at INR 97.50 (USD 1.12) but quickly slipped amid sector volatility and broader market weakness. After a market holiday on February 26, the stock declined further to INR 92.74 (USD 1.06) on February 27, then dropped below INR 90 (USD 1.03) and closed at INR 89.56 (USD 1.03) by February 28. The downtrend continued into March, culminating in a 52-week low of INR 75.51 (USD 0.88) on March 28. However, the tide began to turn...
Chinese spot alumina prices mostly held steady on July 18, while futures prices surged on the back of improved market sentiment. Among China's five key alumina-producing areas, spot prices for metallurgical-grade alumina with purity above 98.6 per cent in Guizhou province and the Guangxi autonomous region both edged higher by RMB 10 per tonne (USD 1.4 per tonne) on day to reach RMB 3,260 per tonne and RMB 3,275 per tonne respectively on July 18, according to Mysteel's assessment. Meanwhile, the assessed prices for the same grade held steady on day at RMB 3,140-3,160 per tonne in Shandong, Henan, and Shanxi provinces. Price gains in the Southwestern regions were largely driven by stronger demand from newly commissioned primary aluminum production capacity there in recent weeks, market...
The European Commission has officially announced imposition of provisional anti-dumping duties on fused alumina imports from China. This time, it is a move to resolve to protect Europe’s domestic industry from market distortions. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1456, adopted on July 17, 2025, delivers a stern warning to China’s state-backed industrial juggernaut: unfair trade practices will no longer be overlooked. Image for referential purposes only At the core of the Commission’s decision lies the recognition that fused alumina, rather commonly known as artificial corundum, derived from melting bauxite or aluminium oxide at over 2,000 °C, has been imported from China at dumped prices, causing material injury to the European Union’s domestic producers. The action follows a...
Futures Market: On the previous trading day's night session, the most-traded SHFE aluminium 2509 contract opened at RMB 20,560 per tonne, with a high of RMB 20,795 per tonnes, a low of RMB 20,560 per tonne, and closed at RMB 20,770 per tonne, up 1.27 per cent from the previous close. LME aluminium opened at USD 2,589.50 per tonne, with a high of USD 2,638.50 per tonne, a low of USD 2,582.50 per tonne, and closed at USD 2,638 per tonne, up 1.89 per cent. Macro: (1) Xie Shaofeng, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated at the State Council Information Office press conference on July 18 that a new round of steady growth work plans for ten key industries, including steel, non-ferrous metals, petrochemicals, and building materials, will be implemented to...
Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) registered significant growth in almost all areas. To begin with, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price hiked by USD 34.5 per tonne or 1.34 per cent to settle at USD 2,591 per tonne and USD 2,591.50 per tonne. As per the LME aluminium price graph, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also expanded by USD 34.5 per tonne or 1.34 per cent and USD 35 per tonne or 1.36 per cent to settle at USD 2,595 per tonne and USD 2,596 per tonne. December 26 bid price and December 26 offer price also marked a hike of USD 37 per tonne or 1.42 per cent to arrive at USD 2,635 per tonne and USD 2,640 per tonne. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price surged by USD 51.5 per tonne or 1.99 per cent to clock at USD...
At first glance, a pile of empty soda cans might seem insignificant, but for Erie Trap and Release, those aluminium scraps are a vital resource. This dedicated local non-profit organisation is on a mission to humanely manage Erie’s feral cat population through a trap-neuter-release (TNR) programme. Image for representational purpose Their work involves nurturing stray cats, by providing essential medical treatments such as spaying, neutering, and vaccinations, and then returning the animals safely to their outdoor homes. But providing this level of care requires funding. Rather than seeking traditional donations, the organisation is asking for something a little more surprising: your used aluminium cans. Aluminium is not just recyclable, it’s infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be...
In mid-July, China's aluminium ingot prices remained stable, supported by elevated raw material costs and ongoing efforts to reduce inventory buildup. Despite increased motorcycle production and government subsidies driving the demand, overall market growth remained subdued due to seasonal slowdowns, export challenges and weaker order volumes. Meanwhile, in Japan, demand for high-purity ingots, particularly from the automotive and aluminium sectors, is providing market support. Image source: IndiaMART For the week ending July 11, 2025, aluminium ingot prices in China remained stable, marking consistent growth from the previous week. Rising raw material costs and a significant reduction in supply-side availability drove this trend. On the supply front, weekly bauxite arrivals at domestic...
ALVANCE British Aluminium has entered a 10-year leasing agreement with VTG Rail UK for the supply of 20 modern 4 axle powder tank wagons, marking a major step forward in the transformation of our rail logistics between the Port of Blyth in Northumberland and our Fort William smelter in Lochaber. The new wagons, which replace a fleet of 2 axle models that have been in service since the late 1980s, will nearly double the payload capacity per trip. This upgrade will reduce the number of annual rail journeys required from 107 to 76 - a 30 percent reduction that delivers meaningful gains in both efficiency and environmental performance. This week saw the official handover of the newly commissioned wagons, which are now ready to enter operational service. Their introduction forms part of a...
Aluminium scrap: This week, the overall price centre of the domestic aluminium scrap market shifted downward, with the market in a wait-and-see consolidation phase. Spot primary aluminium prices plummeted sharply and then fluctuated rangebound during the week. As of July 17, the SMM A00 aluminium price closed at RMB 20,570 per tonne, down RMB 250 per tonne from Thursday last week. Image source: IndiaMART Directly impacted by the weak orders from downstream scrap utilisation enterprises during the traditional off-season, purchases only maintained just-in-time demand. Shredded aluminium tense scrap demonstrated strong resilience against price drops due to persistent supply tightness, with outstanding price resilience. Prices remained basically stable within the range of RMB 15,700-17,300...
A strategic collaboration has emerged, reinforcing digital transformation while redefining the aluminium recycling and die-casting landscape. Indofen Furnaces LLP, a leading manufacturer of furnaces for the aluminium and die-casting sector, has partnered with Siemens, the German industrial automation leader, to drive data-driven advancements through real-time operational insights in aluminium recycling and die-casting. Image source: IndiaMART This move by the collaborating businesses will unlock higher levels of efficiency, scalability for customers and sustainability, creating a diversified change within the aluminium foundry and recycling sector. In the die-casting sector, where fuel intensity, operational continuity and process consistency play a critical role, striking the right...
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest producer, has begun a path-breaking project to convert red mud, a big industrial waste from the alumina refining process, into a useful agricultural resource. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI) for developing and commercialising this "waste-to-wealth" technology. Red mud to green gold The research partnership seeks to confront the sustainable management of bauxite residue, or red mud. For each tonne of alumina produced, approximately two tonnes of red mud are generated. This extremely alkaline residue is conventionally disposed of in vast engineered ponds, taking up large areas of land. You can read our recent market report on it...
